Introduction. An idiom is defined as: “a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.” So we are not going to “beat around the bush” or “cut any corners” in today’s article, because we don’t want to “bark up the wrong tree.” We seek to “hit the nail on the head,” and might even “kill two birds with one stone.” So, “to make a long story short,” we want to give “the whole nine yards” and “let the cat out of the bag” about idioms. I hope you don’t think “I am off my rocker,” “not playing with a full deck,” or “missed the boat.” There is a “method to my madness,” and I think at the end of this article you will agree that I am “right on money."
Introduction. One of the first things you notice when you leave an airport in England, Australia, southern Africa, and many countries in the Far East are cars driving on the “wrong side” of the road. This is “wrong” because by our standards in the United States, one sits on the left side of a car in the right lane, leaving the left lane for oncoming traffic. But by their standards, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car and is driven in the left lane. Terrible accidents are possible if someone reverts to their old standard, driving the “wrong way” in their new country.
Christians face the same danger “for our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20), and we live under its standards. The old standards we learned in this world can become fatal in our new country.
Although we may “call to mind that country from which they had come out,” we must steadfastly refuse to take any “opportunity to return” (Heb. 11:15-16). Now we “desire a better, that is, a heavenly country,” and have become “a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2Cor. 5:17-18). Introduction. The more precise the task, the more accurate the tools must be. In our age of technology, we are well aware of this truth. Yet the task of navigating our soul through the maze of sin and error designed by Satan to destroy us requires the most precise instrument of all.
Our Bible is a lamp unto our feet, and our guide to travel the strait and narrow way that leads to eternal life (Mt. 7:13-14). It contains all truth and the wisdom to be successful. It is the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit and the Word of Jesus. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31-32). It is “All Scripture” and “is “given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” so we are “thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2Tim. 3:16-17). Hence one of the most important decisions we will make affecting our eternal destiny is our choice of Bible translation. If our translation is not true to the original, no matter how hard we seek to comply with its words, it is a tainted source. We need the pure milk of the word and the solid food that will exercise our senses without any addition of human wisdom. In two previous articles we have sought to ease our minds. In this final article we will sum up. Introduction. No matter what is said about any of today’s “literal” translations, we stand on a solid foundation with them. Jesus promised “heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Mt. 24:35). Though the “grass withers and its flower falls away, the word of the Lord abides for ever, “the word of good tidings preached to you!” (1Pet. 1:23-25).
The King James Version (KJV). In 1611, English-speaking people began using the King James Version. This was a monumental work that created a masterpiece. Some affirm we made a mistake replacing it, but there were two important reasons to do so. First was the natural growth and changes of a living language. The “Early Modern English” of 1611 was different than the Modern English we speak today. We no longer use the pronouns “ye,” “thee” and “thou,” or the verb endings “do-eth,” “say-est,” or the verb “art.” Some words became vulgar and make us blush to read: “pisseth”(1Sam. 25:22) “ass” (1Sam. 15:23) and “bastard” (Heb. 12:8). Other words changed completely such as “prevent” (1Th. 4:15) which today is “precede / go before.” Such natural events led to a need for a new translation. The second issue was a little more complicated, but worth the effort to understand. The KJV was translated from the "received text" (Latin “textus receptus”), which at that time was the very best compilation of available Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. But additional extensive scholarship since then has created some “minor” textual issues. I say “minor” because the changes are tiny and doctrinally insignificant. Introduction. Comedians often find rich veins of humor in how words and phrases translate from one language to another. Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball had a lot of fun creating humor using his Spanish and her English in various mistranslations.
God created this language barrier at the tower of Babel to cause confusion and stop sinful mankind from uniting in rebellion against Him (Gen. 11:6-8). Today this inability to understand each other can lead to humor or serious problems. It can be inconvenient or cost time and money. Depending on the outcome, we either laugh or cry at things “lost in the translation.” Today with our global economy, nations and businesses know the importance of a good translator. But what about our Bibles? Introduction. One of the qualifications for an elder is also a very important ability for all Christians. From time to time we find ourselves facing someone who has a need. They are weak and feeble needing exhortation, they are struggling with sin and rebellion and need to be spoken to in a strong enough manner to bring about repentance. We have to learn forbearance and forgiveness. But before we can do any of these things, we must learn and become proficient in “holding fast” “to the faithful word. “
Introduction. The difference between what we truly are and how we see ourselves is often staggering. So Paul found on the road to Damascus. When he left Jerusalem, he was of the opinion that by “persecuting the church,” he was zealous. This “zeal” had advanced him beyond many of his countrymen: “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers." (Phil 3:6; Gal. 1:13-14). Paul was very pleased with himself!
On the road to Damascus, all this came crashing down. Far from being zealous, he was “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man.” He learned “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1Tim. 1:12-15). The man “advanced in Judaism” realized he was “less than the least of all the saints” and “the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (Eph. 3:8; 1Cor 15:9). How did such self-deception occur? Today, multitudes cannot see themselves clearly, because of a “deceitful heart:”
Introduction - Warning against all Greed and Covetousness. A constant warning in the Scriptures is given by Jesus and repeated by His apostles. Each must “beware and be on your guard against every form of greed (covetousness)” (Lk. 12:15). Since man “cannot serve both God and mammon (money/wealth)” (Mt. 6:24), it is very important that we monitor it in all its guises and disguises. Each must be “free from the love of money; and content with what you have” (Heb. 13:5). This must be done lest being “minded to be rich, fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts that drown men in destruction.” “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1Tim. 6:9-10). What does this have to do with the recent record-breaking US Powerball lottery?
Subtitle: "She will be Saved through Childbearing"
(Alan, who normally writes these articles, is not feeling well this week and our webmaster, Jeff Cox, is filling in.) Introduction. Arguably, the Apostle Paul was the most prominent person in the New Testament after Jesus. As the last of the Apostles, he was personally selected by Jesus. A prolific writer, he wrote at least 13 out of 27 NT books. We can learn much from his life as he encouraged:
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Alan HitchenAlan is a preacher for the Holly Street church of Christ in Denver, CO. He has preached in various other locations in his +35 year career. He is also active in spreading the Gospel to Malawi, Africa. |